October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The importance of this month is to increase awareness on the importance of early detection of breast cancer....Here are just a few informational links and ways you can help:

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

National Breast Cancer Foundation

Susan G. Komen For The Cure
if you live in Omaha - our run is Sunday October 5th - Steve and I are running on a team - coordinated by someone he works with.....

And thanks to Cami on 29 Gifts I found out about this girl - Elysia Skye: Read her story:

My Mini (and kinda scarry) Warewolf

SO....we took the boys to Nobbies and Halloween Express this weekend - we had a ton of fun - WE LOVE HALLOWEEN! Xander picked out his costume - it's a tad bit scarry but very cool!!! Check him out!


I even got a mask - can't wait to wear it - it is so pretty...your gonna have to wait to see it.....

Layouts from Saturdays Crop

My new friend Wendy invited some of us over for some scrappin this past Saturday - had a great time. I ate way more than I scrapped - but that is generally how it is when food is present. This is what I got done.

29 Gifts!

I recently joined a worldwide giving movement called 29 Gifts. I've been so inspired by the changes I'm seeing in my life as a result. It feels great to be part of a positive community and help create a revival of the giving spirit in the world. There are people taking part from 37 countries!

We only need 118 more people to say "YES" and sign up for our 29-Day Giving Challenge by 11:59 pm pacific time on Monday, 9/29/08 to meet our initial goal of 2,000 givers. I hope you’ll join with me and offer your own gifts to the world.

It’s so simple. Just sign up at 29 Gifts and commit to give away 29 gifts in 29 days. If you want to, you can share stories or art on the 29 Gifts community page about how it impacts your life to focus on giving.

You can start your personal challenge any time, and your 29 Gifts can be anything... money, food, old sweaters, smiles, your time, kind words or positive thoughts.

WHY SHOULD YOU DO THIS? To inspire more generosity on our planet. Because to see our world change, we have to do something to change our world. Plus, the best way to attract abundance into your own life is to be in a perpetual state of giving and gratitude.

Visit 29 Gifts today and sign up to start giving!

NOTE: Please include my name (Stacey Curry) in your sign up form when it asks, "How did you hear about http://29Gifts.org" because I win a digital video camera if one of my friends happens to be the 2,000 giver to sign up. Member number 2,000 will also get a special gift, but they're keeping the gift secret until the goal is reached.

The deadline is 11:59 pm Pacific Time Monday 9/29/08 so don't delay! It takes two minutes to sign up at 29 Gifts

Thanks!

Stacey

Pay It Forward - Update

Looks like Karen was the first to post! Congrats to Karen and thank you for playing along! Please email your address to stacey@starhitchedwagon.com! Thank you Becky and the other poster for playing along - if you want to email your addresses as well I want to send a thank you!

Pay It Forward

Cool giveaway - first person to comment on this post and promise to pay it forward wins a pair of Star Hitched Wagon earrings called Believe

How easy and cool is that!!!

Remember - PAY IT FORWARD

Nice to be recognized!!!

As you you may remember my First Signs of Fall bracelet was published in the September/October issue of Bead Trends Magazine. If you didn't get a chance to see the issue you really should try to - it's a wonderful magazine.
Anyways....thought I'd share the bracelet:

The wire, jumprings, and clasp all come from a fantastic supplier Vintaj. Prior to discovering their beautiful antiqued brass findings I worked only with sterling silver (OK - maybe 1 or 2 rose gold or copper pieces). I love their selection and the rustic and even whimsical feel that their designs bring to my pieces. And they support the artists too! Check out their post about my First Signs of Fall. So yes it is nice to be recognized! Thank you Vintaj
Here are some other pieces that I have made using Vintaj findings:

29 Day Giving Challenge

Have you heard of this:
29-Day Giving Challenge
Thanks to Angela from Positive Living for bringing it to my attentiuon! What a fantastic thing.
I truly do believe in the pay it forward philosophy - sometimes I forget to live it - but I really do try. I try to share a smile, a hello and how are you to a stranger, and occassionally money or food to someone in need. But you could take this to so many different levels - it will be interesting to see how people react. Mostly I hope it starts the snowball effect. And to keep me focused on the many positive aspects of life.
Won't you join.....and lets remember to pay it forward!

A Good Cause...

Wow - you have to read what one gal is doing to make a difference....I am so impressed by her drive. Read here:
Heart to Heart
And even better go purchase her lovely stamp set - Whimsical Autumn- 100% off the proceeds go to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Of course I will send a card out and I hop eyou play along too, and who knows you might just win her blog candy - it is a huge prize! Even if you don't win - the joy you will bring to the care giver is enough in itself!!!
SO get over to Cammie's blog and read all about this and get to making your card/s! Can't wait to see what you all come up with - if you play along let me know - I would love to see your creations!

Here is what I came up with:

New layouts

Finally back to creating layouts on a regular basis - and I am lovin it!!!
I got the Becky Fleck book - Scrapbook Page Maps - OH MY.......EVERYONE needs this book.....I LOVE IT!!!! I have a small confession to make - I don't like spending money on scrapbook idea books - I always think to myself - man I could buy a lot of paper for the price of this book. But I LOVE Becky Flecks sketches so I went for it - and the price was super reasonable......plus she lives in Montana - and that in itself makes her a SUPERSTAR!!!! Anyways...long story short - so worth every penny - I have been using it a ton. My two Nevada city pages are based on her sketches, so is cool old stuff, and we love candy stores. The thing that is so cool about this book - is she has the sketch and then two or three done up layouts - which I think inspires creativity to make it your own - you can use the sketch EXACTLY as she has it or pull elements that you love. So worth it - run out and buy it now...

Card Boxes

Found this tutorial here:
Dannie's Designs
So awesome. So Xander and I made ours yesterday. Loved how they turned out. They look hard but actually are easy enough and fairly quick!
This is mine:

This is Xander's - he is SOOOO into EVERYTHING Halloween right now. It's is favorite time of year. So of course he picked the Halloween papers.

Some new layouts

So beautiful...

My beautiful friend Tara just had family photos done - and they are so AWESOME!!! And the photographer is wonderful - her work is beautiful. Check both out:
Alissa Ferullo Photography
Tara's Family

A Challenge from...

Angela Moore at Unexpected Art
Great idea - go read about it and join in on the challenge. Focus on what your grateful for instead of falling into the negative cycle!

I'm starting today!

Today (and every day) I am thankful for my AWESOME family!!!!